Avalon, at 1314 Bardstown Road, has long been a staple of swanky dining on Bardstown. Many is the evening I have jaunted past and seen crowds of elegant men and women lifting long stemmed cocktail glasses or forkfulls of truffle oil drizzled lobster mac-n-cheese to their mouths. For a special date night, Avalon was always at the top of my fiance's list--for fresh and fun American cuisine and fantastic cocktails. The patio is usually humming with activity on weekend nights, music and laughter floating over Bardstown road in the breeze.

According to the recording on their answering machine, and notices in the windows, as of July 1st, 2012, Avalon is suspending operations "due to unforeseen circumstances". No word yet on what these circumstances could be; the website is still active, as is the restaurant twitter feed.

There is no word concerning Luna Boutique, (under the same ownership and adjacent to Avalon) and whether this closing will affect their operation in any way. The answering machine at Luna does not have any such farewell message on it. Let's cross our fingers that this is not a permanent situation and whatever has caused this unceremonious shut down will resolve itself; but the message on the answering machine thanking patrons for their service smacks of finality.